Today is my 999th post.
Wow.
I am a numbers person. I get a kick when the numbers in the checkbook have some kind of pattern. I like catching the clock when it reads 12:13. I watch my odometer on my car too.
This year, my birthday will be 12/13/14.
There will be a party.
Being that this is post #999, I couldn't let it pass without acknowledging it.
That's a lot of writing.
Some of it good, some of it not good.
Hey, I'm not an English major.
The funny part about that fact is that I would probably have the exact same three part-time jobs if I did have an English degree.
On the being thankful note, I am very thankful for peanut butter, chocolate and graham crackers. Put them together (after melting the chocolate very slightly in the toaster oven) and you have a delicious snack. I can't believe I have never thought of that combination before. I like s'mores, but I'm not a fan of a marshmallow that has not been roasted over an open fire. I like peanut butter on graham crackers.
Watch out, it will change your world.
Maybe not, but it really is a great snack. It has every craving; crunchy, chocolatey, salty, sweet, savory… what more could you ask for?
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
words of encouragement
I forgot yesterday. And then I had a dream that I realized I forgot to write a post and I got up and wrote one.
But that was just a dream.
Yesterday I had a "me" day.
One of my Christmas presents was a bank gift card. Because it was from the church, I wanted to use it to buy something that might actually come from church friends.
I have been looking at some wall art (remember this?) online, so I went to a couple of stores to see what I could find.
I found a simple cube, with a brightly painted sunflower that says, "Give Thanks". It was on clearance. It doesn't scream "Autumn decoration", so I carried it around the store while I looked at other things.
Then I found a plaque that says,
It wasn't on clearance, but it was still within my gift card budget, so I picked that one too.
These words of encouragement are sprinkled throughout the house. I am thankful for the gift that I received to purchase these two signs that will remind me of my faith, family and friends.
But that was just a dream.
Yesterday I had a "me" day.
One of my Christmas presents was a bank gift card. Because it was from the church, I wanted to use it to buy something that might actually come from church friends.
I have been looking at some wall art (remember this?) online, so I went to a couple of stores to see what I could find.
I found a simple cube, with a brightly painted sunflower that says, "Give Thanks". It was on clearance. It doesn't scream "Autumn decoration", so I carried it around the store while I looked at other things.
Then I found a plaque that says,
"Faith to light the darkened sky,
Strength to carry you on,
Love to touch and heal the soul and
Hope to greet the dawn"
It wasn't on clearance, but it was still within my gift card budget, so I picked that one too.
These words of encouragement are sprinkled throughout the house. I am thankful for the gift that I received to purchase these two signs that will remind me of my faith, family and friends.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Broken and Healing
I am thankful for healing broken friendships.
I continue to learn, grow and gain wisdom.
I learn valuable lessons of life from my parents and my friends.
I have many wonderful friends (see my post about giving thanks for friends), new and from long ago.
I'm not calling my friends old.
I'm saying that we have been friends for a long time.
Over the years, I have learned an important part of friendship is forgiveness. I have also learned to let things go. You may not believe me when I say this but this is how I am; if I am in an argument and I walk away, I'm likely to let it go. I've learned that holding grudges is pointless. All that has done is given me gray hairs.
Wow, I'm really sounding old in this post.
Most likely I am apt to let it go because I chose to forget. Or, I am old and I forget plain and simple.
Ooh shiny!
(I also have the attention span of my Jr. High students, which is probably why I get along so well with them.)
This last fall, I was in the copy room at work and I discovered that a co-worker and I share half-birthdays. We then got on the topic of Monday's child, etc. She is the attorney for JFON (I used to volunteer for her). She is Monday's child, fair of face. How true is that as she seeks for justice for those who have quiet or no voice?!
I'm a Tuesday's child full of grace.
For some reason, I have always thought of graceful. And graceful I am not. I am full of bumps and bruises. It was that day when I learned it's not that kind of grace.
It's the grace of forgiving others.
It's the grace of love.
That makes sense.
I recently reached out to a friend from long ago. I didn't want to reach out to heal myself, but I wanted to reach out because I miss her. I wanted to reach out because that's who I am.
She responded with a reciprocal outpouring of love and forgiveness. It's never to late to heal. To forgive. Or to share with someone that you miss them and care for them.
I continue to learn, grow and gain wisdom.
I learn valuable lessons of life from my parents and my friends.
I have many wonderful friends (see my post about giving thanks for friends), new and from long ago.
I'm not calling my friends old.
I'm saying that we have been friends for a long time.
Over the years, I have learned an important part of friendship is forgiveness. I have also learned to let things go. You may not believe me when I say this but this is how I am; if I am in an argument and I walk away, I'm likely to let it go. I've learned that holding grudges is pointless. All that has done is given me gray hairs.
Wow, I'm really sounding old in this post.
Most likely I am apt to let it go because I chose to forget. Or, I am old and I forget plain and simple.
Ooh shiny!
(I also have the attention span of my Jr. High students, which is probably why I get along so well with them.)
This last fall, I was in the copy room at work and I discovered that a co-worker and I share half-birthdays. We then got on the topic of Monday's child, etc. She is the attorney for JFON (I used to volunteer for her). She is Monday's child, fair of face. How true is that as she seeks for justice for those who have quiet or no voice?!
I'm a Tuesday's child full of grace.
For some reason, I have always thought of graceful. And graceful I am not. I am full of bumps and bruises. It was that day when I learned it's not that kind of grace.
It's the grace of forgiving others.
It's the grace of love.
That makes sense.
I recently reached out to a friend from long ago. I didn't want to reach out to heal myself, but I wanted to reach out because I miss her. I wanted to reach out because that's who I am.
She responded with a reciprocal outpouring of love and forgiveness. It's never to late to heal. To forgive. Or to share with someone that you miss them and care for them.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Remember when we had to go to the Library to look up something…?
Recently I was forced to upgrade my phone. I had already been searching and looking into what other companies had to offer. And then my phone made the decision for me. After almost three years, my phone that didn't even have its GED (get it? It wasn't a smart phone), bit the dust. The screen went kaput.
This, of course, happened during a bad ice storm and I was headed to Detroit. I knew how to call Bill, so I was at least able to let him know. And 9-1-1 could always be reached.
I went with an iPhone. We are a Mac family and I was most familiar with it.
Today, during lunch at the office, we were talking about game shows, hosts and other celebrities. I kept using the app for IMDB (Internet Movie Date Base). Now, with a few taps on the screen, I can answer questions like, how old is Vanna White and what about that game show. You know, the one. With the celebrities. No, not Hollywood Squares. Oh yes, it was Match Game.
While technology doesn't always get along with me; today I am thankful for the people that have put time and research into that simple app.
This, of course, happened during a bad ice storm and I was headed to Detroit. I knew how to call Bill, so I was at least able to let him know. And 9-1-1 could always be reached.
I went with an iPhone. We are a Mac family and I was most familiar with it.
Today, during lunch at the office, we were talking about game shows, hosts and other celebrities. I kept using the app for IMDB (Internet Movie Date Base). Now, with a few taps on the screen, I can answer questions like, how old is Vanna White and what about that game show. You know, the one. With the celebrities. No, not Hollywood Squares. Oh yes, it was Match Game.
While technology doesn't always get along with me; today I am thankful for the people that have put time and research into that simple app.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Friends
I am thankful for friends and being able to share time with them.
It may be an obvious choice; I don't know anyone who doesn't like their friends, but it's my blog and my year of giving thanks.
I'm sure you understand.
Sharing food, laughter, good times, bad times, it doesn't matter when you're with friends. We have so many amazing friends. I'm extroverted enough that I could spend every day or evening with friends. I think in high school and college I did. I never liked being alone.
I'm okay with being alone now. (Or maybe I'm not, I do blog, it's my way of connecting when I'm home by myself.) But I still really like the time I spend with friends.
Quality Time is also my Love Language (if you haven't read the book, I urge you to read it, so does Bill). This is the fourth time it has been mentioned today. I need the quality time I spend with friends. It fills me. And don't we all need to be filled with love?
Friends to me are love.
That's what I've been trying to convey with giving thanks. So there you have it. In less than one week, I opened up and have accomplished what I wanted to by giving thanks.
We're all done.
You can stop reading now.
No, I'm just kidding. Don't leave me! I need you.
Oh boy, maybe I need to see my therapist…
In conclusion, friends are great and today I'm highlighting our friendships. I'm not going to list our friends for fear I would accidentally leave someone off the list (that would be awkward). So, if you're our friend, please know that you are included in this post today.
It may be an obvious choice; I don't know anyone who doesn't like their friends, but it's my blog and my year of giving thanks.
I'm sure you understand.
Sharing food, laughter, good times, bad times, it doesn't matter when you're with friends. We have so many amazing friends. I'm extroverted enough that I could spend every day or evening with friends. I think in high school and college I did. I never liked being alone.
I'm okay with being alone now. (Or maybe I'm not, I do blog, it's my way of connecting when I'm home by myself.) But I still really like the time I spend with friends.
Quality Time is also my Love Language (if you haven't read the book, I urge you to read it, so does Bill). This is the fourth time it has been mentioned today. I need the quality time I spend with friends. It fills me. And don't we all need to be filled with love?
Friends to me are love.
That's what I've been trying to convey with giving thanks. So there you have it. In less than one week, I opened up and have accomplished what I wanted to by giving thanks.
We're all done.
You can stop reading now.
No, I'm just kidding. Don't leave me! I need you.
Oh boy, maybe I need to see my therapist…
In conclusion, friends are great and today I'm highlighting our friendships. I'm not going to list our friends for fear I would accidentally leave someone off the list (that would be awkward). So, if you're our friend, please know that you are included in this post today.
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